Although I firmly believe you can spoil two children just as easily as you can one, there is a stigma surrounding only children that they are spoilt brats who are unwilling/unable to share.

I am determined that this description will never be levelled at my son, but in today's world, where, despite the supposed credit crunch, many of us have more disposable income than ever before, it is hard for us parents not spoil our children.

As Christmas looms I want Samuel to understand that the festive season is not just about receiving presents it is also about giving them.

Last week we wrote a letter to Santa, providing him with a list of gifts Samuel would like for

Christmas – these included an Optimus Prime transformer that actually works (regular readers of my column will know from last year , this is not as easy at it sounds) and a Scooby-Doo costume.

We sent the letter via "Magic Post" – which basically consisted of us sprinkling some magic dust on it (glitter) and uttering a spell "Ziggerty, zaggerty, ziggerty boom, take this letter to Santa – zoom(I know, I know, but I was under pressure to come up with something quickly).

We then left the letter in a flower pot by the back door and miracle of miracles in the morning it had disappeared.

But this was not all.

Just 24 hours later, a mysterious letter appeared addressed to Samuel in the post. I bet you can't guess who it was from?... Father Christmas, of course.

Santa told Samuel he was pleased to hear he was being such a good boy, and would do his best to make the presents for him on his list, but he reminded him that Christmas was not just a time for receiving gifts it was also about giving them.

He told Samuel to sort through his old toys and find some suitable ones he could give to a charity shop. He also asked him to spend some of his own money on a present for a little boy or girl, who did not have a mummy and daddy to buy them presents – but this opened a can of worms, I had not thought about.

"Does Father Christmas not give presents to everyone then, mummy? Samuel asked.

"Have those children been naughty?"

"Ummm, no," I answer. "Father Christmas makes the presents and delivers them to the children, but mummys and daddys have to send him the money to pay for them," I answer quickly.

"Some children haven't got a mummy or daddy, so we have to buy a present for them instead."

I thought this was a pretty good explanation, but now I am beginning to think I have over complicated the whole thing. I would be interested to know what other parents tell their children about the jolly old man in red. . .